Technological Change and The City

This book looks at the complex relationships between cities, technology, economic factors, environmental factors and social factors. It points out how the form and structure of today’s Australian cities, the conditions in our cities, and the choices about how we want our cities to be in the future are dependent on the decisions, practices, activities and investments made yesterday and today.

Reporting research on the major effects on the city of changes in the retailing industry, land use and transport, water sewerage and drainage services, communications, manufacturing and building, it describes inter alia how the information age, global economics, innovation in the production system and environmental considerations are changing not only the way life is lived and business is done in the city, but also how urban space is used and organised, and how in turn these changes raise important social questions and challenge the very meaning of what constitutes a city.

CONTENTS

Introduction: Technological Change and Urban Development

Patrick N Troy

Part I Historical Perspective

Infrastructure, Technology and Change: A Historical Perspective

Lionel Frost and Tony Dingle

Part II Technological Change and Urban Services

Transport Technology and Urban Development

Ray Brindle

Water, Sewerage and Drainage

Clem Lloyd

Communications

Don Lamberton

The Emporium’s New Clothes: Retailing Technological Change and Urban Development